New York City join race for Mohamed Salah as Sims outlines MLS ambition

New York City FC have openly positioned themselves as a potential destination for Mohamed Salah, with chief executive Brad Sims confirming the club’s admiration for the departing Liverpool FC forward.

News broke earlier this week that Salah will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, drawing a line under a glittering spell at Anfield and immediately triggering global interest in his next move. While long-standing links to Saudi Arabia have resurfaced, NYCFC have now emerged as an ambitious alternative within Major League Soccer.

Sims, speaking at the Sports Business Journal Business of Soccer conference, did little to hide the club’s interest in securing one of the game’s most recognisable attacking talents, though he stressed that any pursuit would depend on the player’s own رغ desire to embrace the MLS project.

“I would love to have Mo Salah.

“We have not had any discussions with him or his people. What is most important is does the player want to come to MLS and be in New York City.

“We are not going to go out and sell someone on New York, the league or our club. We want players who really want to be here.”

NYCFC’s stance reflects a broader recruitment philosophy that prioritises character and commitment as much as star appeal. Sims emphasised that marquee signings must align with the club’s culture and competitive standards, rather than simply boosting profile.

“And the other thing about star players is you need to make good choices… You need the guys who are going to be the hardest trainers, good team mates and good for the locker room and the culture. We do a lot of due diligence, and not just on star players.”

The prospect of Salah arriving in New York would represent one of the most high-profile acquisitions in MLS history, underlining the league’s continued push to attract elite global talent.

NYCFC’s connection to City Football Group, the ownership network behind Manchester City FC, further strengthens their capacity to compete for such a signature.